Amarillo ISD provides solar eclipse guidelines to campuses

by Brooke Self

The Amarillo Independent School District said elementary and middle school students should be kept inside during the time of the solar eclipse, which will take place Monday, August 21. (Sinclair Broadcast Group)

AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) —

The Amarillo Independent School District said elementary and middle school students should be kept inside during the time of the solar eclipse, which will take place Monday, August 21.

The eclipse will begin at about 11:29 a.m. and end at about 2:25 p.m. The maximum viewing be at about 12:56 p.m.

AISD said the District provided solar eclipse guidelines to their schools. Those guidelines include elementary and middle school campuses planning to remain inside during the time of the eclipse. They said if a campus already has outdoor plans pertaining to the eclipse (i.e. already purchased certified solar eclipse glasses), they need to use the permission form to send home to parents to allow them to opt out. If a parent opts out, AISD said the campus will need an alternative indoor supervised activity.

AISD said the eclipse is "definitely a teaching/learning experience" and live streaming and recordings will be offered by numerous online media outlets.

AISD also told their campuses to communicate the importance of not looking directly at the eclipse to students who may be transitioning to different buildings during the day.

"Since some high school students will be on and off campus for lunch, please make announcements on Friday and Monday about the importance of not looking directly at the eclipse," AISD said in their guidelines.

According to AISD, safety for every student is the number one concern.